The government yesterday submitted a supplementary estimate seeking the approval of the House for Rs. 371 million (Rs. 371,097,000) to purchase nine vehicles for ministers and deputy ministers.
The estimate was presented to the House by Chief Government Whip Parliamentary Reforms and Mass Media Minister Gayantha Karunathilake.
Accordingly, the approval has been sought for the allocation of Rs. 39,897,000 to acquire a vehicle for the Minister of Education, Rs. 42,000,000 to purchase a vehicle for Deputy Chairmen of Committees in Parliament, Rs. 82,000,000 to purchase two vehicles for the minister and deputy minister of Ministry of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine, Rs. 40,000,000 to purchase a vehicle for the minister of plantation industries, Rs. 38,200,000 to purchase a vehicle for the Sports Minister, Rs 43,000,000 to purchase a vehicle for the Deputy Minister of Parliamentary Reforms and Mass Media, and Rs. 86,000,000 to purchase two vehicles for the minister and state minister of Industry and Commerce.
In addition, parliamentary approval has been sought for Rs. 19,100,000 for six vehicles the Ministry of Education has obtained on lease, Rs. 28,180,200 to purchase an ambulance for the Prime Minister, Rs. 1,050,000,000 for the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation for double tracking the railway line in Polgahawela - Kurunegala section and Aluthgama-Galle section and set up a new domestic airline on Public Private Partnership basis, and Rs. 850,000,000 to procure National Cyber Security System for the Ministry of Defence.
Supplementary allocations are provided strictly for the purposes specified in approved budget estimates to relevant spending agencies after a need assessment is carried out with consideration to relevant financial regulations, and approved procedures, a note attached to the estimate said. .
It said: "However, this supplementary provision does not change the approved total expenditure limits of the annual estimate by Parliament. The allocation of such purposes has been made under the project of budgetary support services and contingent liabilities of the Department of National Budget and it is under the limit of the approved annual budget.
"Therefore, either the borrowing limit or the maximum limit of total expenditure will not be increased due to granting of these supplementary provisions."
